Kosovo Round 9: Man Vs. Machine

With two rounds to go in the European Championship at Kosovo Ernesto Inarkiev is firmly in pole position. However, the battle is not only about first place. The players are also competing for invitations to the World Cup (the first 23 participants get a ticket) as well as for cash (22 main prizes plus 10 additional prizes). Not to mention the creative aspect, which as usual is the focus of our commentator Alexei Yarovinsky, who reflects on several fragments from round 9 below.

The young Armenian GM demonstrated his theoretical knowledge in the following rook ending.

FRESSINET - HOVHANNISYAN

49...g3!? This isn’t the only move, but it forces a well-known drawing position. Note that this is an example of when you have to ignore the computer’s evaluation.50.fxg3 Kg7 As the classics taught, you have to keep the enemy rook behind the passed pawn, whether it is your pawn or your opponent’s. The Black’s rook has occupied an active position, whereas White’s isn’t going anywhere. The outcome of the game now depends on the file where White’s other pawn stands – on the kingside. The position is a draw if the pawn stands on the g- or h- files, as advancing the pawn doesn’t lead anywhere, while if the White king heads towards the b-pawn the Black rook checks it from below. On the other hand, were the pawn to stand on the f-file or further to its left White would win by advancing it. For example, if it’s on the f-file White advances it to f6 with check, and after the forced...Kf7 White wins with Rh8.51.Kd1 Rb6 52.Kc2 Rb5 53.Kc3 Rb6 54.Kc4 Rb1 1/2

On the other hand, the computer can see in one second what a mere human will never see, as the next game demonstrates.

43.b4 - White has managed not only to move his queen out of danger but also to trap Black’s.
2) 38…Rxd7 39.Rc8+ Rd8 40.Rxd8+ Qxd8 41.Nxd8 Nd3 42.Nxb7 – and White has excellent chances to win thanks to his extra pawn.

38...Rxc8 39.Qxc8+ Kg7 40.Ne7? 40.Ne6+! here would have been the easiest way to ensure a draw: 40...fxe6 41.Qxe6 Nd3 42.Qe7+ with perpetual check.40...Bxd4 41.exd4 Nd1 42.Kf3

49.Ke8? The king has come a long way and he should have taken some rest at this point: 49.Qd7! leads to an unclear position in which, according to the computers, the game should end in a draw.49...b5? Black could have gained a good advantage with 49...Qb4! 50.Nd5 Qxb3 51.Qd7 Qf3.50.a5! b4 51.Qc4 (by attacking the f7 pawn White is essentially offering a draw) 51...Qb8+ 52.Kd7 Qb7+ 53.Ke8 Qb8+ 54.Kd7 Qb7+ 55.Ke8 1/2

The Russian GM had the advantage in the game

PANTSULAIA - DREEV

but he failed to play accurately when it mattered. On the other hand, his opponent did:40.Rxf7! Sacrificing the rook, White removes the blockade from his passed pawn.40...Rxf7 41.c7 Qa8+ 42.Kh3 Qf3! 43.c8Q+ Kg7 44.Qxf7+ Qxf7 45.Bxf7 b1Q 46.Bc4 Qf5+ 1/2

Evgeniy Najer made yet another big error. It’s now too late to call him the reigning European Champion.

We have already commented twice on Aleksey Goganov’s successes in Gjakova. Let’s now take a close look at his latest victory, following which Aleksey finds himself hot on the heels of the tournament leader.

Going into the fourth round of the European Championship in Gjakova two Georgian GMs were among the competitors yet to lose a game: that country’s undisputed number one Baadur Jobava and the experienced Zurab Sturua, who has been one of the top players on the veterans circuit in recent years. But last night their paths diverged. For how long, though?

Nine players have yet to lose a game after the third round of the European Championship in Gjakova. This set of competitors includes Baadur Jobava, who the previous day had stayed true to his original style and deliberately adopted a somewhat worse position against Samvel Ter-Sahakyan, provoking the Armenian GM to charge forward with reckless abandon, for which he was duly punished.

The second round of the European Championship in Gjakova saw a number of fierce battles. The only exceptions were a few games between compatriots that ended in harmless draws: between the Czech players Hracek and Navara, and between Belarusians Stupak and Zhigalko.

The self-declared Republic of Kosovo is host to the European Chess Championship that kicked off on Thursday. The competition sees a fair mix of strong grandmasters and many amateurs. In fact too many: we have the impression that such a large number of unrated or lowly-rated local players has never competed in such a tournament.